Angina Pectoris – Strategies for Protecting the Heart

Pectoral angina is a pain of the heart which does not receive enough blood, oxygen, in order to activate the pump function.

Pectoral angina is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying disease, usually coronary disease which fits in the pathology of ischemic heart disease.

Basically on a coronary which is the vessel feeding of the heart muscle, fats are deposited (plaques) or spasms occur and reduce blood to the heart muscle. If blood would be stuck in the coronary system it could produce myocardial infarction, death of the heart muscle in the area where no blood is received. But fed with insufficient blood and oxygen, it hurts. We can say that angina may announce a future heart attack.

Characteristic appearance of angina is chest pain or burning, usually retrosternal (in the middle of the chest) which may occur after exercise from low to moderate or high, lasts 20 minutes and responds to medication.

Medicines used for angina nitroglycerin, beta blockers or medicines, basically medicines that lower the heart effort and increase blood supply.

To reduce frequency of angina and prevent the appearance of pain is essential to consider the following tips and advice:

1. Subtract the cholesterol if you have it high. Total cholesterol increased, LDL-cholesterol increased, low HDL-cholesterol, total triglycerides increased are risk factors and the cause for the angina syndrome. Also maintaining them at levels above normal speeds and worse complications such as in this case the occurrence of a heart attack. Changes in cholesterol and its parameters are called dyslipidemia and benefits of medicinal treatment (usually with statins where we may add fibrates) but it is extremely important also nutrition, diet and lifestyle.

It is recommended that consumption of oily fish meat even twice a week. Tuna, mackerel, sardines and other fish which contain oils rich in omega 3 that protect the heart, regulates thee cholesterol and protects the brain against aging and depression.

Consume vitamin C and vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant including cholesterol and can be found best represented in nuts also in grains and green vegetables.

Avoid heavy meals. Replace 2-3 meals a day with 5-6 meals in small quantities. It may be that angina occurs after a heavy meal due to redistribution of blood from the heart to the intestines.

If you are overweight or obese it is necessary to lose weight and get as close as you can to a normal BMI to decrease the appearance of angina crisis.

3. Lifestyle Tips for people who have angina and chest pain troublesome:

Quit smoking immediately if you smoke and if you do not avoid passive smoking. Smoking is the cause and precipitating factor of occurrence of angina but also a complication of heart diseases (myocardial infarction for example).

Make movement and physical exercise for 20-30 minutes daily. Not recommended running or big physical efforts that can enhance any angina and neither in outdoors and cold weather. Walking and physical exercises from easy to moderately recommended.

Aspirin for Heart. It is recommended and preferred to be prescribed by a doctor if you do not have other stomach ailments. A 75-mg aspirin per day protects against clots and blockages in blood flow to the heart.

Stress can do as much harm as smoking if you suffer from angina. It is necessary to reduce daily stress if you are a stressed person.